General Chat

Hello again Peggy The sun is shining here in Langley Vale again today. I am going to see 2 of my grandaughters later this morning. Rebecca is 11 and Emma is 6. They are going to Florida next month for a holiday with their parents and other grandparents. Their Mum and Dad decided not to tell them where they are going because Emma, especially, would keep on and on asking when and how etc. as young children do!The children think they are going to a Haven holiday camp as they usually do and it is so hard not to spill the beans to them! Emma has never been on a plane and thinks she cannot go to America because, as she says, she doesn't have a purple book! (A passport). Of course she does have one but hasn't seen it! They have new clothes for the holiday and some need altering. Call on Grandma Sue! Their Mum is useless with a needle and cotton and she admits it! So I will be loading my sewing machine and box of cottons, elastic etc. into my car and driving to their house. It's only about 5 miles from here so shouldn't take long. I suppose I had better get myself organised now or I'll never get there! Take care Peggy, we are thinking of you. Best wishes from Sue at Langley Vale and family

Peggy, Its good to see your messages back to the top of the list again. We are all thinking of you and hoping you will soon be well enough to get back home again. We all have so much to tell you about, via Norah. It is a lovely morning in Newark - some blackbirds are having a wonderful time, inspecting what I have put out on the birdtable. It is amazing they can make so much noise, fighting off the sparrows. Love Elisabeth xx

Hi Peggy: My dad has had health problems for several weeks now -- don't remember, I think it started in January. He hasn't been home since and cannot return there as he now needs someone to be with him. We have been trying to find a place for him to live (near us), but this past week found that he has more "concerns" and we are awaiting the results before we will know if he can be placed in an assisted living facility. It's hard when things change, isn't it? Faith and determination sure are important. I know the combination has helped a few of my friends, it is helping my dad and it sounds like it is helping you. What can I tell you about us? Well, we live near San Francisco, California. My family is from Toronto, Canada. My aunt and cousin visited us last week and when we weren't all chatting at the hospital (my dad looked so happy to see his sister!) we were driving my aunt and cousin around. We did all the touristy things like drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped on the other side to view the bridge and San Francisco. I am still a Canadian citizen and will stay that way, but I did snicker a little bit when my cousin mentioned the hills in San Francisco. She was quite amazed that the cars didn't tip over when going up the steepest hills. Marilyn and Aunt Mary also thought the ocean view from San Francisco was wonderful. We stopped and ate lunch at a restaurant that overlooks the beach and the Pacific Ocean. We had a great time talking, watching the waves and watching the people on surfboards. Tonight after a barbecue supper, my younger son and I sat outside and watched the stars come out. We've done that quite a few times while camping, but never in our backyard. It isn't quite warm enough to sit out at night, so we both had blankets, but it was so nice to take the time to sit and relax and talk. We must have been interesting talkers, as we had lots of company -- mosquitos! We are now arguing over who has the biggest mosquito bumps! Peggy, I'll be thinking of you and Norah. Sending you both lots of love, Lisa.

Hi Norah:) Hello Peggy Sorry to hear your not feeling too good at the moment and I hope the rest at the hospice is doing you good. My Great, Great grandfather and his parents came from Newark on Trent, which I gather is near to you. The sun has been shining today and I've managed to get quite abit done in the garden, hopefully you'll be back in yours soon and will be able to enjoy this lovely weather, let's hope it remains all summer. Take care and all my love and prayers are with you. Helen

Hi Peggy hope you are feeling okay, my name's wendy, i live in wallasey merseyside and i have two children, thomas is just 3 and stephanie is 10 months, needless to say they keep me busy so i have only just seen this message. Wonderful idea and i hope it has cheered you up, i'm no good at funny stories i'm afraid so i'll just say....Dear Peggy, keep fighting, we are all thinking of you, love Wendy xx

Peggy is in my thoughts. I hope she has a good rest and is back home soon Sheila x

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peggy paid her usual visit to the Hospice last Tuesday, but she was asked to stay in. She has resisted this on earlier occasions (like all of us, she likes her own home best). However,she had been feeling quite poorly for a few days and so, took them up on their offer. During my phone-call today, I was told that she is feeling very tired and is having difficulty with her breathing. May I ask you all to remember Peggy in your prayers and thoughts - knowing Peggy, she will stay with us if she can, if only to hear more of your delightful messages!!! Thank you so much Norah

Hello Peggy, It is nice to speak to you and I hope all these messages cheer you up a little. My name is Ann and I live in a village near Gloucester, Churchdown. I originate from Hampshire. I am 63, have two children and five wonderful Grandchildren - four boys and the youngest, Sophie , the only girl. As you can imagine she is a little spoilt, she is 21 months old. The boys are 15, 14, 12, and 7. we are knee deep in seedlings and plants at the moment and looking forward to when the garden is full of flowers. We are very fond of our garden and work hard in it. We have just returned from a holiday in Carnbee, near Anstruther (did you know the locals pronounce that Ainster or Anster?) Fife We had a lovely week and while there attended a beautiful wedding of the daughter of a good friend. It was very colourful, held at a country house hotel with a piper and many of the men in kilts, or Army Officers' uniform. Laura the bride looked lovely in a cream satin sheath dress with a thin halter neck strap. she is in her 30s, blonde, slim and 6 foot tall. gavin, her bridegroom was in Army Officers uniform. they came down the steps of the hotel under a guard of honour with the piper playing. I had better stop, I can ramble on for ever and don't want to tire either you or Norah out. i will speak to you again soon. Best wishes Ann glos

Hiya Peggy My name is Elle (pronounced "L", short for Elspeth, an old fashioned name which I've brought into the 21st century as I'm only 21!). I live in Worksop in Nottinghamshire so not too far from you. I should be at work today but I'm not 100% myself as I had my lower right wisdom tooth removed on Monday afternoon :-(. I am currently doing an impression of a hamster on one side of my face. If I wasn't so drugged up on painkillers I could have taken a drive into Nottingham to have a chat with you for the afternoon. But as I feel like I'm floating on the ceiling I'll just leave this message with Norah for you to get well soon. Love and Best Wishes Elle xxx

Hello Peggy I have a Birthday Book for GC members so that we can wish them a Happy Birthday on their birthday. As you are a very special person I wonder if you would let me know the date of your birthday as I'm sure people here would love to wish you a Happy Birthday. I hope you are enjoying the messages sent to you. Love June xx

Hello Peggy, Sorry I haven't left a message for you for a couple of days, but I seem to have been busy. I was out most of yesterday and have been at the hospital with Mum-in-law this morning. Just a routine visit to her eye specialist. I remember someone was talking about their various garden shrubs and flowers. My garden has been beautiful. I have a large number of daffodils, which are over now, and lots of tulips fighting with the wind today. The pieris is living up to its name of Forest Flame and really looks like a fire just now. I have two raised beds by my kitchen window with a pieris in each. For some reason one isn't thriving as much as the other. I wonder if I might have some evil vine weevils in the poor one. The forsythia has been covered in bloom. I have two large bushes in the front by the gates and numerous little ones around the back garden, trained to the walls. There is a weeping flowering cherry by the front wall, full of blooms. I am surrounded by 6 ft walls at the back with forsythia, lots of roses, pyracantha, clematis, climbing hydrangea and wysteria. There is always something to look at. I hope you are feeling a little better today and that Nottingham isn't as wild and windy as Newark. My washing was dry in a short time, so I've now got a mountain of ironing to start. Love from Newark. Elisabeth xx

Peggy, thought Id drop you a line, hoping your feeling fine today. Im Bill a Scot from Fife, I moved out here to NZ, and then Australia in 1955, I am at present in the Southern Alps, thats in Victoria, South East Australia, a small town called Omeo, nestled 2000ft up in the 7000ft Mt Hotham, where they have Ski fields that will open in June. I am on my own here, you know what they say "when you are single your pockets do Jingle" (Well its not true) think I will have to marry a rich widow. By the way are you available, you need to have money though. The weather up here is nice most of the time, and I do a bit of Fishing, dont catch much but its fun trying. I also dig for gold, this is an old Gold strike town. now the population is only 350. and mainly farming, and Logging. Going to make dinner now (I have to make my own) so will chat again soon, just you take care Peggy. Love you, Bill in Australia. XXXXX

nudge

Hello Peggy. My name's Janet and I live in a village in east Northamptonshire, close to the Cambridgeshire border. I am 57, married with two grown up daughters. No grandchildren yet, but we have three cats. Cracker is the latest arrival, who came to us as an adult, his elderly owner having died. He was left to roam the streets of a nearby town for a year before we heard about him - so we took him in. We called him Cracker, because we brought him home on 5th November, and because he is a real cracker. He's huge - not fat - but BIG. He weighs just over a stone, and is the size of a small dog. He has rips in his ears from his time on the streets, and has the most comical look about him! He is mainly black, with white feet, a white bib and two white markings on his face that are like brackets on each side of his mouth. Judging by his appetite, we think he is saying, 'Please place the food between the brackets!' Underneath, he has, what looks like, a white bikini. He has the biggest, roundest eyes I've ever seen in a cat, and behaves like a 3 month old kitten. As you can imagine, he sounds like a herd of buffaloes as he tears through the house at top speed! He's also learning to talk. Whenever he comes back into the house, he calls out "'ello, 'ello, 'ello" and won't shut up until someone shouts "hello" back to him. Over the past couple of weeks, he's started to speak French too! When he wants a cuddle, he rubs around us and says, "Moi, moi"! Despite his size, he is very light on his feet, except when he decides to visit us in the bedroom in the middle of the night! We are usually alerted by the sound of the herd of buffaloes as he comes up the stairs and along the corridor at high speed, shouting "ello, ello, ello". He launches himself at the bedroom door, which opens with a crash, and dives onto the bed with such a force that my husband and I bounce upwards, leaving the mattress, which is about 6 inches below us! When we come back down, we find that he has already positioned himself between us, on his back, with his back legs stretched out. (We really must get a bigger bed, and a third pillow!) There's never a dull moment since Cracker's been here, that's for sure. Yesterday, probably as a result of his hard times on the street, he decided to hide the leftover cream I had put down for the cats by covering it up, which he did by scooping the contents of his bowl of dried food on top of it! It obviously worked, as our other two cats were found staring at the strange concoction in the bowl, with VERY puzzled expressions! But, as my daughter said - you can get chocolate covered pretzels - so what's the difference?! Well - one things for certain - he's good entertainment value - and he makes us laugh - which is well worth the cost of the cat food! I do hope that my little message will help to brighten your day, and comes with my very best wishes. Janet

Hello Peggy - just to let you know that l still have'nt sown any seeds - but, l have just bought some Clematis - 2 pink and 2 purple. Also bought 6 lovely terracota pots. My sister and l bought them at Taurus Crafts in Gloucester,very nice centre for crafts,garden plants and lovely coffee/snack shop. Work tomorrow - l've been off for 3 weeks (Easter hols and one week with relatives from USA). I work with adults with learning difficulties and l can't wait to get back. We're having left over chicken(from yesterdays roast) tonight with mash and salad and hubby will be back with the dog in a mo, so l ought to get peeling those spuds. Take care. Jude x

Hello all, Thought I would keep you up to date - Today I have posted off three tapes to Peggy which include all your messages apart from two. These will go on to tape number four. Thank you all so much. Norah xx

Hello Peggy I live in Doncaster ( you should laugh now) it's not such a bad place --have you ever visited? The race course is quite nice but we never go to the races, not my thing really, I much prefer the seaside Being ill is crap and I am sorry I don't know any jokes but you can have my love and thoughts along with everyone elses Best wishes Janet

Hello again peggy Just thought i would update you on the missing socks and shoes saga....The trainers are back........but the socks are still missing? The driver who took the trainers realised that he had picked up the wrong pair from the changing room after trying to squeeze his size 11s in to hubbys size 8s he thought his feet had swollen in his own wellies and just slung them in the van and drove home in his welly liners instead, when he stoped at the petrol station on the way home he tried again to get the trainers on his feet and realised that they were not his, as the socks inside were not the same ones he put on that morning after having a good look at them... he told my husband next day, "Sorry mate after pulling them socks out of the trainers they really didnt smell that good so I got rid of them at the petrol station!! Oh well thats one pair less I have to wash. Im still laughing, and hubby saw the funny side too. Regards Rosie

Jacqui - Have emailed you. Ray, Thank you, that is lovely Norah xx

Hiya Peggs - I understand you live in Nottingham like me! I actually live in Tollerton, but work in Sneinton (and I think that's pretty near to you). Just reading a really good book on the St Ann's District of Nottingham - its history and how it was demolished in the 1960's to make way for better housing. It's really interesting, as it relates stories from people born in the early part of the century and their memories of St Anns. If Norah would like to e-mail me with your number, I would be pleased to call you and have a natter. Lots of love. Jacqui